Friday, February 21, 2003

This article from the Atlantic shows mathematically how everyone of Western European descent is related to Charlemagne. More interesting, though, is that we all share a common ancestor no earlier than a couple thousand years ago.

Keep that in mind next time you're rude to the waitress... she's probably Richard the Lionheart's direct descendant, and she's probably your cousin--and not so distant a cousin as you thought.

Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month's newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

Take from the dresser of deal,
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.